BOUND

COMPOSED BY: HUANG RUO
LIBRETTO BY: BAO-LONG CHU

“Dramatic, soulful and extremely interesting.”
– Drama in the Hood

“To me, a Vietnamese refugee living in America, the notion of being bound to one’s culture (and the struggles therein) is not just an idea, but my life writ large.”
– Librettist, Bao-Long Chu

Opera Maine’s Studio Artist Program presents Bound, a moving and contemporary chamber opera by acclaimed composer Huang Ruo and librettist Bao-Long Chu. Inspired by real events, Bound tells the powerful story of Diane Tran, a Vietnamese-American high school student balancing the weight of her family’s expectations, cultural identity, and the harsh realities of the legal system.

Through Huang Ruo’s evocative score—blending Western and Eastern musical traditions—and Bao-Long Chu’s poignant text, Bound explores themes of belonging, duty, and the search for personal freedom.

This intimate production, conducted by Lance Inouye and directed by Richard Gammon, features the talented young artists of Opera Maine’s Studio Artist Program, offering audiences an unforgettable and thought-provoking theatrical experience.

Join us for Bound on Friday, June 26 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 2:30 PM.